|
MTN phasing out scholarship scheme in favour of bigger
package
Accra, Aug. 26, Ghanadot/GNA – MTN Ghana is
phasing out its scholarship scheme in favour of a bigger
package that would benefit more pupils and students at all
levels of education without having to apply directly through
MTN.
MTN Ghana Founder Project Coordinator, Frazier Malcolm, told
Ghana News Agency (GNA) that; “MTN has decided to phase out
its own scholarship scheme, but have committed its support
to financial aid offices of some of the country’s public and
private universities, who will in turn extend assistance to
many needy, but brilliant students.”
He said MTN would also partner some established educational
scholarship funds and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
to support pupils at the basic level.
Since 2000, the holding company of MTN, Scancom Limited had,
through its two previous brands, Spacefon and Areeba,
instituted a scholarship scheme to benefit at least 1,000
needy but brilliant pupils and students in the country.
MTN inherited 370 beneficiaries on the scheme two years ago,
but currently there are 294 beneficiaries being sponsored at
all levels until their completion at the university level.
Beneficiaries had to apply to MTN through detailed online
application forms on its website, and it benefited a limited
number of applicants at a time.
Mr Malcolm explained that management was no longer
sponsoring new beneficiaries, to allow it to phase out
within the eight-year period ending 2015, for the new
package to begin early next year.
He said under the new scheme, the selected institutions
would select students based on their own criteria but would
report to MTN on the performance of the students as well as
the performance of the scheme.
“MTN would continue to make contributions into the
scholarship funds of the selected institutions and allow
their respective financial aid offices to manage the funds,”
he said.
Mr Malcolm said MTN was proud of the beneficiaries of its
scholarship scheme, some of whom had grown into top
professionals and contributing their quota to national
development in various capacities.
“There are some beneficiaries whom we knew as masters and
misters but are now doctors, telecommunication engineers and
finance experts,” he said.
He mentioned some of the past beneficiaries as Dr. Angela
Frempong Durowaa – Madina Clinic, Dr. Herzuah Andrew -
Central Regional Hospital, Dr. Jimah Bashiru - Cape Coast
Regional Hospital, Kwame Amoako Appiah – Telecoms Engineer,
Huawei /MTN, Isaac Adu – UBA, Dr. Akandi Isaac – Korle-Bu
Teaching Hospital, Daniel Oppong Nyinah – MTN Ghana (Finance
Division), and Fawaz Inusah - MTN Ghana (Finance Division).
When GNA contacted Dr. Angela Frempong Durowaa, a General
Medical Practitioner, she said she was on the verge of
truncating her medical education when MTN intervened.
“MTN is a life saver,” she said, adding that she was going
on transfer to Kumasi.
Mr Kwame Amoako Appiah, who now works with Huawei on MTN
project, said with excitement, “my brother, my brother, MTN
saved my life – and you know I had First Class in Electrical
and Electronics Engineering, all because MTN intervened when
there was no hope anywhere.”
Mr Malcolm said MTN was also going to increase it
sponsorship package for this year’s National Best Teacher
Awards Scheme, “in spite of the global economic downturn.”
Last year, the company provided two saloon cars worth GH¢18,000.00
for the overall winner and first runner-up, plus a year’s
insurance and maintenance cover for the overall winner; and
in 2007, the sponsorship package for the scheme was worth GH¢15,000.00
GNA |
